Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY 07-14-10] Gilat Satellite Networks has been chosen to provide VSAT broadband satellite network applications for an unnamed Asian homeland security agency, the company announced July 13.     Gilat will deploy its SkyEdge and SkyEdge 2 multi-service platforms as well as its NetEdge solution for corporate and cellular multi star networks.     The networks...

[Satellite TODAY 07-14-10] NASA has initiated a nanosatellite Centennial Challenge contest, offering a prize purse of $2 million for technological achievements by independent teams who work without government funding, the agency announced July 13.     The Nano-Satellite Launch Challenge involves placing a small satellite into Earth orbit twice in a week. NASA said the goals...

[Satellite TODAY 07-14-10] Comtech Mobile Datacom received a contract modification to its Movement Tracking System (MTS) program contract with the U.S. Army, authorizing two six-month performance period extension options and a $226.7 million ceiling increase, the company announced July 13.     This is the second MTS contract ceiling increase Comtech has received since May, bringing...

[Satellite TODAY 07-13-10] The India Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched its PSLV-C15 rocket carrying five satellites into orbit on July 12, the agency announced.     The rocket took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. The PSLV C15 carried a remote sensing satellite, the Cartosat 2B and one pico-satellite called...

[Satellite TODAY 07-13-10] The U.S. National Security Administration (NSA) Maryland Procurement Office has awarded ViaSat with a multi-year contract for approximately $10 million to upgrade its High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor Interoperability Specifications (HAIPE IS) on ViaSat’s AltaSec inline network encryptors to version four, the company announced July 12.     The contract continues the development...

[Satellite TODAY 07-13-10] Agile Communication Systems has selected XipLink to provide optimization technology for a current U.S. military network application in Afghanistan, XipLink announced July 12.     The network will use a combination of XipLink’s portable and small-form-factor XipStick devices for remote deployment and the company’s XA-10K product for high capacity and redundancy at the...

[Satellite TODAY 07-12-10] Alliant Techsystems (ATK) and NASA have completed installation work on the second Ares 1 first stage five-segment development motor (DM-2) in preparation for its static-fire test scheduled for early September, NASA announced July 9.     Acting as prime contractor for the Ares 1 first stake, ATK designed the engine with a focus...

[Satellite TODAY 07-12-10] ViaSat has been awarded a $5.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy for tactical data link and satellite communications equipment and engineering support services, the company announced July 9.     The contract, issued from the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic (SPAWAR), combines purchases for the U.S. Navy and the...

[Satellite TODAY 07-12-10] The German military’s ComsatBw-2 communications satellite is operational and has been handed over by manufacturer Astrium after completing in-orbit testing, Astrium announced July 9.      ComsatBw-2, launched by Arianespace in May, completed a series of in-orbit tests covering the platform, payload and components of the satellite’s secure control system. The satellite is...

[Satellite TODAY 07-12-10] Mobile satellite service provider TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) received a $9.8 million order from the U.S. Army for support equipment and maintenance of secret and non-secure Internet protocol router access point (SNAP) VSAT satellite systems, the company announced July 9.     The order, initially funded at $1.7 million with the possibility of reaching...